Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge (Remix)

thingiverse

I completed a more comprehensive, print-ready model from Rutgerkdejong's original design. The axle holes are 2mm in diameter, as far as I recall. You can use a nail or wire for the axle, or you could repurpose an rc car axle like I did - just cut it to size. No supports are necessary, except maybe for the half-circles on the enclosure. I printed that part with support, so I'm not sure if it will come out clean without any. The raised platform inside the enclosure wall is meant for sensors that detect when the bucket tips over. I used a SparkFun line follower (IR detector/emitter) https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9453 . Attach this to the side platform with hot glue, then add a square of aluminum foil on the elevated tab for IR reflection. I wasn't impressed by reed sensors in this setup due to their small size and finicky requirements. There's enough clearance between the lid and enclosure so you shouldn't need to adjust the scaling of either part. The files are ready to print. My calculations, which may be slightly off, indicate that each bucket tip corresponds to 0.6579mm of rainfall. If anyone else runs their own numbers, I'd love to hear them.